Exhaust silencing means



Sept. 12, 1933. c. B. JAHNKE EXHAUST SILENCING MEANS Filed June 13, 1950 Zk- -T HUI FIGJ

WZn/ ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 12, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Fairbanks, Morse & poration of Illinois 00., Chicago, 111., a cor- Application June 13, 1930. Serial No. 460,925

10 Claims.

- An object of the present invention is to provide a simplified and improved device of the type referred to, which embodies means for silencing, effectively, the exhaust pulsations of internal combustion engines.

A further object is to provide a device of the class noted, which embodies means for separating, effectively, any foreign particles, such as carbon, sparks or water from the engine exhaust, be-

fore permitting the exhaust gases to be expelled to the atmosphere.

An additional object is to provide an improved device for purposes set forth, which is neat and compact in arrangement, the parts of which are readily accessible for any necessary repair or cleaning, and which is economical to construct and maintain.

A still further object is to construct a device of the general type noted entirely of sheet metal except'for certain standard threaded connections and fittings. An additional object is so to construct a cleaning and silencing device for engineexhausts as to produce a turbulent and spiralling movement of the gases within the device, without employing the usual vanes, bafiles and the like, within the containing portion of the apparatus.

A still further object of the invention is attained in a device having the characteristics suggested 0 by the foregoing objects, and yet which effectively cleans and silences the exhaust gases and pulsations thereof with a minimum of back pressure.

Further objectsand advantages of the invention will appear from the following detailed description of parts, considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a vertical sectional elevation of a pre- "ferred form of the device, certain portions of the device being taken along the section asindicated Q by line 1-1 in Fig. 2; Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation, showing certain details, as viewed along the line 22 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a front elevation of a preferred form of water nozzle employed in the device.

Referring now by characters of reference to the drawing, there is shown at 3 a casing or stack, preferably of cylindrical form and provided at one or its upper end with an outlet fitting 4, which may be secured as by a flange 5, to the end wall of the stack. An exhaust inlet fitting 6 is shown in the present example as disposed horizontally, and provided with a standard flanged coupling 7, by which connection may be eifected to an engine exhaust pipe. The inlet fitting 6 opens into one 5 or the lower end of the stack 3 and is arranged with its axis disposed as best appears in Fig. 2 and so that one wall of the inlet fitting is tangent to the wall of the casing 3, for purposes hereinafter appearing. A threaded member 8 is secured, by preference, at about the angle shown in Fig. 2, in a lower portion of the wall of the stack and with its axis disposed, for example, at about 45 degrees to a transverse median through, or diameter of the stack. The fitting 8 is, by preference, a standard pipe coupling of suitable diameter, the threaded portion thereof extending interiorly and exteriorly beyond the wall portionby which it is carried, whereby a threaded pipe connection may be effected on the outside thereof to a suitable source of water supply under an appreciable pressure. Interiorly of the fitting 8 is a nozzle portion 9, which is of the so called fish tail variety, as will appear from Fig. 3. The opening or orifice of this nozzle of a slot-like character, being elongate in form, with its major dimension parallel to the longitudinal axis of the stack. The nozzle 9 is also provided with a flared body, so as to issue a vertically spreading, or fan-shaped stream.

From the relation of parts as they thus appear in Fig. 2, it will appear that a stream of water emitted by nozzle 9 will be directed into impact with a fluid stream issuing from the exhaust inlet fitting, at an angle of about 45 degrees. The resulting effect of the impingement and coalescence of the streams issuing from the nozzle 9 and the intake fitting 6 will be hereinafter described.

Since it is preferred in practice to deliver an amount of water through the nozzle 9 somewhat in excess of that which is carried upwardly in the stack by the stream of exhaust gas, it is advisable to provide a drain of adequate area, as appears at If) (Fi 1). For purposes of attaching a drain pipe, the portion 10 may assume the form of a threaded pipe coupling which is preferably secured into the end Wall of the stack 3, as by welding.

The chamber constituted by the stack 3 is preferably divided, as by a transverse partition 11 having a central aperture 12 therein upwardly or outwardly of which projects a throat portion 13, shown as being of cylindrical form and which terminates upwardly or outwardly in a tapered funnel or mouth 14, of frusto-conical shape, the wall portion of which is disposed on a slope, in the present example, of substantially degrees with respect to a plane transverse of the stack. Extending inwardly from the outer end wall of the stack is a cylindrical fitting 15, preferably disposed centrally of the stack and, by preference, of even size with the exterior fitting 4 referred to above. If desired, the portions 4 and 15 may be made integrally with the flange 5. The fitting 15 is preferably of such a length as to extend downwardly into the funnel portion 14, so that the lips or edge of the latter portion project beyond the innermost edges of the portion 15. I

As will hereinafter more clearly appear in the description of the operation of the device, the annular chamber 16 lying outwardly beyond the portions 14 and 15, is adapted to entrap and collect such water particles as may be carried by the exhaust gases to this point. To the end of removing any accumulation of water within this chamber, a drain passage 17 is provided. Since in the present example, the stack 3 is obviously arranged for vertical mounting, it appears that the drain 1'7 is disposed at or near the lowest portion of the chamber 16. Drainage water may be conducted away from the fitting 17 by suitable piping (not shown) which may, as may be desired, be conducted to the conduit or piping leading from the drain 10, above referred to.

For convenience of access to the interior of the stack for purposes of assembly and cleaning, as may be necessary, it is my preference to provide clean out openings or hand holes 18 and 19, provided respectively with cover plates 20 and 21, which may be bolted as shown, or otherwise suitably secured, preferably in gas-tight relation over the respective openings.

The purpose of the device and the course of gas and water particles therethrough are thought to be apparent from the preceding description of parts and connections, but may be briefly referred to for sake of completeness, as follows:

As the exhaust gases proceed from the fitting 6 to the chamber within the inner or lower end of stack 3 they are given a definite rotation about the axis'of the stack due to the tangential arrangement of the inlet, with respect to the stack. This results in a very rapid swirling movement of the gases, which movement, of itself, tends to dampen the exhaust pulsations and effectively to silence them. The construction of the fishtail nozzle 9 is such that a relatively flat, diverging stream of water under pressure is continuously introduced in such a manner that the water stream impinges against, and diverts to a certain extent, the exhaust gases as they enter the stack. The resultant effect of the impingement and partial coalescence of the two streams is to cause, not only a rotational movement of the now partially saturated gas, about the axis of the stack, but to create a distinct turbulence or whirlpool effect adapted still further to silence and dampen exhaust pulsations. Obviously, any foreign matter or carbon introduced to the stack will immediately be quenched and precipitated by the effect of the water stream from nozzle 9 so that the heavier particles will not easily be carried outwardly beyond the inlet zone, but will be thrown downwardly and flushed out of the large drain opening 10. The expansion of the gases in the chambered portion of the stack nearest the inlet fitting will, of course, tend to reduce the velocity of their movement endwise of the stack, with the result that there is an additional tendency toward precipitation of heavy particles.

Due to the tendency of the gases to move toward the outlet 4, the resultant movement of the mingled gas and water particles results in their following a spiral path, proceeding with turbulence, toward the entrance to the cylindrical portion 13, thence outwardly through the funnel 14. At this point the gas again expands relatively, certain of the water particles being precipitated; others being thrown outwardly by centrifugal force, tend to collect on the inner surface of the funnel portion 14, thence to move overthe edge of this member and collect in the chamber 16, until removed therefrom through the drain 17. The dried gases are free to proceed outwardly through the fittings 15 and 4, either to atmosphere or to-any extension of the exhaust line which may be provided beyond the outlet 4.

The device is shown by the drawings as constructed for vertical installation; it will, however, appear as obvious that if it is desired to dispose the stack in other than a vertical position, the locations of the drain openings 10 and 17, as well as other parts of the device, may be appropriately altered, without altering the essential principles of the device.

The present example of the invention, as illustrated by the drawings, has been described in specific detail, in compliance with the statutory requirements relating to applications for Letters Patent. This description is to be understood, however, solely as illustrative and not in a limiting sense, since substantial changes may be made in the described construction and arrangement'o! parts, or certain of the parts may be omitted, or others added, without departing from the spirit and full intended scope of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

It is contemplated that the present device may be used either as a single unit, or in multiple; i. e., any desired number of the devices may be connected in series if desired, in order to enhance the cleaning and silencing effect where used with extremely high compression engines or engines of large capacity. It will appear from the foregoing description that the device described is highly effective for the purposes intended, that it may be constructed of standard materials and manufactured at low cost, with the results expressed or implied by the several objects set forth above.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an exhaust silencer, a container having an inlet opening and a discharge opening, said inlet opening being arranged to direct incoming gases at a tangent to an are described about the axis of the container, and means for directing a stream of liquid at a tangent to a different arc about said axes, into contact with, and near the plane of, the stream of incoming gases.

2. In an exhaust silencer, a container having a discharge opening, and means associated with said container adapted for introducing along a common plane therein, relatively impinging streams of exhaust gas and liquid, said means being arranged for directing said streams tangentially to concentric arcs.

3. In an exhaust silencer, a container formed about a longitudinal axis and provided with inlet openings, near a common plane transverse to the container, means for injecting exhaust gas through one of said openings, and means for injecting a liquid under pressure through another of said openings, said injecting means each being arranged to project fluid streams at a tangent to an are described about an axis of said container.

4. In an exhaust silencer, a container formed about a longitudinal axis and provided with an inlet opening, means for injecting exhaust gas and means for injecting a liquid under pressure,

said injecting means each being arranged to project fluid streams along a common plane trans verse to the axis of the container, and at a tangent to an are described about an axis of said container, said means being further arranged to project their fluid streams at a distinct angle to each other.

5. In an exhaust silencer, an elongate, vertical container having a compartment of substantially circular section, an exhaust inlet fitting arranged to project gases substantially tangent to, and peripherally of, said circular compartment, means for injecting a liquid stream into said container and substantially Within the path of incoming gases, a liquid drain passage directed from said compartment, a second compartment in the line of exhaust gas flow from said circular compartment, means in the second compartment for separating liquid particles, and a drain passage in said second compartment.

6. In an exhaust silencer, a container having a discharge opening, means for introducing a stream of exhaust gases and a stream of liquid in impinging relation to said exhaust gases, means within the container tending to separate liquid particles from the exhaust gases, prior to their discharge from the container, a drain outlet for suchiseparated particles, and a passage Within the container, disposed out of the path of gases therethrough, for conducting said liquid particles to said drain.

7. In an exhaust silencer, a container, means dividing the container into a plurality of compartments, means for simultaneously introducing streams of exhaust gas and liquid in mutually impinging relation to one of said compartments, means associated with another of said compartments, for separating the particles of gas and liquid, and a passage within the second compartment for conducting the liquid particles, out of the path of the gases, to a point of drainage.

8. In an exhaust silencer, a container having a cylindrical inlet portion and a discharge opening, means for introducing, tangentially of said inlet portion, streams of exhaust gas and liquid with said streams in mutually impinging relation, a conduit having a flared portion disposed near the discharge portion of the container, and adapted centrifugally to separate liquid particles from the exhaust gas, and a liquid return passage between said conduit and the container wall, providing for movement of liquid back along the line of gas flow, but out of contact therewith.

9. In an exhaust silencer, a vertical container having compartments arranged one above another and having a discharge opening in the upper compartment, means in the lower compartment, tending to induce a turbulent movement of said gas introduced in said container, said means including a pair of inlet ports adapted respectively for gas induction and for a stream of liquid, one of said ports being disposed to deliver a fluid stream at a tangent to an arc about an axis of said container and the other of said ports being disposed at a substantial angle to said first named port, a liquid separator in said upper compartment, a return passage and a drain therein, for separated liquid, and a drain in said lower compartment.

10. A stack for cleaning and silencing exhaust gases, including an elongate cylindrical container, an inlet fitting disposed in the Wall of said container near one end thereof and arranged to deliver a stream of exhaust gases at a tangent to an are on the longitudinal axis of the container, an outlet fitting disposed in the opposite end Wall of the container, a water nozzle disposed substantially in the plane of the inlet fitting, and provided with a slotted discharge opening, the major dimension of which is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the container, said Water nozzle being directed at a substantial angle to the stream of incoming exhaust gases, means forming a drainage outlet in the end wall of the container opposite the outlet fitting, a partition dividing said container into chambers of unequal size, the largest of said chambers being disposed nearest the inlet fitting and water nozzle, and means in the smaller of said chambers for centrifugally separating Water particles from the exhaust gases passing through the container, said centrifugal means including a flared conduit portion disposed coaxially of the container, said flared portion extending in overlapping relation to said outlet fitting, and means forming a water drainage outlet from said smaller compartment.

CHARLES B. JAHNKE. 

